How the Machado signing will impact Bryce Harper

With Manny Machado signing the biggest contract in baseball history, a 10 year, $300 million dollar deal with the San Diego Padres, all eyes are now focused on Bryce Harper. Bryce Harper is now the headline in baseball. Where he will sign will dominate the baseball headlines throughout spring training.

Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Before Manny Machado’s $300 million dollar contract, it was reported that Machado was offered what he felt were insultingly low offers of 8 years, $240 million dollars from the Yankees and 8 years, $250 million dollars from the White Sox. With the official signing of Machado being 10 years, $300 million dollars, it is almost certain that Bryce Harper will get a bigger deal. Given that Bryce Harper’s agent is Scott Boras, suitors for Harper’s services will probably have to give Harper the biggest contract not only in terms of millions per year, but also in value. As a result, Harper will most likely sign a contract that is worth 10 years, $326 million dollars, beating out the value of Giancarlo Stanton’s $325 million dollar deal and beating the Machado contract in terms of millions per year, $32.6 million versus $30 million. Bryce Harper will most likely sign what will be the biggest contract in sports. The million dollar question (pun intended) is where will Harper sign his mega deal.

It seems the front runner to sign Bryce Harper is the Philadelphia Phillies. However, rumors of him simply not wanting to play there won’t go away. But a Phillies team with Bryce Harper would be favorites to win the NL East, as a roster with players like J.T. Realmuto, Andrew McCutchen, Rhys Hoskins, and Odubel Herrera and a pitching core anchored by Arrieta and Nola could make a deep playoff run. If Harper signs with the Phillies, they could be in the running for several World Series titles. Another team rumored to be in the running is the San Francisco Giants. They have been reported as “trying hard” to get Harper but don’t seem optimistic at that prospect. Of course, the Nationals are in the running to resign their beloved star. Boras is reported to be very friendly with Nationals ownership and Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, Anthony Rendon, and Trevor Rosenthal are all Boras’ clients. Other teams on the outskirts to sign Bryce Harper are the San Diego Padres and the Chicago White Sox.

Overall, the general consensus is that the Phillies are the frontrunners to sign Harper. They are capable of giving Harper that kind of money and putting him alongside what is already a formidable roster could lead to many playoff runs for the Phillies. The waiting game seems to be coming to an end with the signing of Machado, and baseball fans are eager to see where Harper will sign next.